Millions of people enjoy running as their primary form of exercise. Of course, running strengthens everything from the legs to the core and beyond. The heart and cardiovascular system benefit from running, which leads to long-term health benefits. Regular running also places a lot of impact on the body due to repeated contact with the ground. Unfortunately, regular runners may suffer from a variety of foot injuries, both common and uncommon. All individuals need to be aware of potential injuries.
Here’s a look at three uncommon foot injuries to be aware of:
Achilles Tendinitis
This can be described as inflammation of the Achilles tendon. With Achilles tendinitis, you can expect to feel burning and aching sensations in your Achilles tendon. The tendon may bring a lot of pain, depending upon the severity of the inflammation. Your condition may worsen if you continue to run without treating the condition, and it’s quite common for a variety of reasons.
When you run, you place a lot of stress on your feet. The feet are far away from the heart and don’t receive tons of blood flow compared to other parts of the body. Plus, tight calves will put even further strain on the Achilles tendon specifically. You can treat this condition by taking a break from running, icing the tendons, and stretching on a regular basis.
Stress Fractures
A stress fracture creates a fissure in one or more of the bones of the foot. Based on the severity of the fissure, your pain may range from minor to severe and anywhere in between. Stress fractures occur due to repeated stress on the feet from intense running. A number of other situations can lead to a stress fracture, and even a simple misstep on a rock can cause a fissure.
Diagnosing a stress fracture is somewhat straightforward. You’ll be unable to hop up and down on the injured foot. Also, x-rays and other tests can reveal what’s going on in the foot. Treatment options revolve around putting no weight on the injured foot. Typically, you’ll want to wear a boot and wait about six weeks before putting regular weight on your foot. Most fractures heal over time with no long-term issues.
Subungual Hematoma
Sometimes, your toes might ache from running, and that’s commonly attributed to poorly sized footwear. If you ever notice bleeding under your toenails, then subungual hematoma is probably the culprit. Repeatedly slamming your toes against the front of your shoes while running can damage the blood vessels in your toes. Repeated damage leads to bleeding.
First and foremost, you’ll want to buy new footwear and give your feet a short break from running. Icing the toes and switching to sandals with no running can help the healing process along. Nothing is worse than continuing to run with subungual hematoma and the same poor-fitting running shoes. Do yourself a favor and buy new running shoes!
How To Prevent Foot Injuries, Both Common and Uncommon.
For more information on protecting your feet and treating these conditions, visit https://alignfootankle.com/. Foot injuries hit everyone that runs from time to time. Everyone knows how to deal with aching feet or shin splints. These less common issues mentioned above require different approaches to treatment. Either way, the more you know about potential foot issues, the better you can handle them and get back to running.
